Published on: 7/25/2025
What is the difference between being overweight and obese?
Being overweight and obese both mean having more body fat than is healthy, but obesity is more severe than being overweight.
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Explanation
Being overweight and being obese are terms used to describe having more body fat than is considered healthy. The main difference between the two is the amount of body fat.
- Overweight: This is when a person has more body fat than is considered normal but not as much as someone who is obese.
- Obese: This is when a person has a lot more body fat, which can lead to more health problems.
Researchers use different ways to measure body fat, such as body mass index (BMI), to decide if someone is overweight or obese. BMI is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. According to the references, there are specific BMI ranges that help classify if someone is overweight or obese, with obesity having a higher BMI than being overweight.
Understanding these differences is important because being overweight or obese can affect health in different ways. Knowing if someone is overweight or obese can help in making better health choices.
(References)
- Potter AW, Chin GC, Looney DP, & Friedl KE. (2025). Defining Overweight and Obesity by Percent Body Fat .... The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 38747476.
- Bray GA. (1987). Overweight is risking fate. Definition, classification, .... Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 3300479.
- Aronne LJ. (2002). Classification of obesity and assessment of obesity-related .... Obesity research, 12490659.
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